Morocco’s football federation (FMRF) has protested to world governing body Fifa about the refereeing during Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final defeat by defending champions France in Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been marred by controversy, with Morocco protesting the decision of the semi-final referee.
After a hard-fought match against France, Morocco was dealt a crushing blow when the referee awarded a controversial penalty kick to the French team. The Moroccan players and fans were incensed by the decision, with many feeling that the call was unfair and biased.
In the aftermath of the match, Morocco launched a formal protest with FIFA, the governing body of international soccer. The Moroccan Football Federation released a statement condemning the referee’s decision and calling for a review of the match.
France beat brilliant Morocco to reach World Cup final
The Morocco’s football federation is unhappy that Mexican referee Cesar Ramos failed to award a penalty in the first half to the North Africans when Theo Hernandez made contact with Sofiane Boufal in the area.
Instead of awarding a spot-kick, which several neutrals felt was appropriate, Ramos instead booked winger Boufal for a foul.
The Moroccans were also unhappy that the hauling down of substitute Selim Amallah as he awaited the delivery of a set-piece also failed to prompt another look from officials.
The first African and Arab team to contest a World Cup semi-final, Morocco lost 2-0 after an early goal by left-back Hernandez was followed by a late strike from substitute Randal Kolo Muani.
“The Morocco’s football federation has written to the relevant body to review the refereeing decisions that deprived the Moroccan team of two penalties that were indisputable in the view of several refereeing specialists,” the Moroccan ruling body said in a statement.
“The Morocco’s football federation was equally astonished that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not react to these situations.”
The lack of VAR intervention mystified some of those working as pundits during the game.
“It looked like a penalty to Morocco for me – VAR not working,” asked former England striker Chris Sutton, who attended the game for domestic British radio.
It was an analysis with which former England defender Rio Ferdinand agreed.
“I thought it was a penalty on Sofiane Boufal, rather than a foul by him,” the former Manchester United player, working as a television pundit, said.
BBC Sport Africa has contacted Fifa for comment regarding the Moroccan protest. FIFA has yet to respond to the Moroccan protest, and it remains to be seen whether the organization will take any action in response to the controversy.
The Atlas Lions still have one game left in Qatar when they take on Croatia in Saturday’s third-place play-off. The third-place play-off match between Morocco and Croatia is set to take place on December 17th, and the outcome have significant implications for both teams’ on their 2022 world cup journey.
Having already defied expectations by overcoming Belgium, Spain and Portugal en route to the last four, the Atlas Lions can now become the first African team to ever take an effective bronze medal at the World Cup
